Statement by ACE President Molly Corbett Broad on the National Labor Relations Board’s Decision in the Northwestern Student-Athlete Unionization Case

August 17, 2015

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​“We are pleased that today’s decision marks the closing chapter in this case and reiterate our belief that forming a collective bargaining unit is not the appropriate way to address concerns expressed by student-athletes.

We remain confident of the longstanding legal principle that students cannot be classified as employees under federal labor law, whether they are participating in intercollegiate athletics, engaging in the performing arts or pursuing any number of other academic and extracurricular activities as part of their overall college educational experience.

To do so would be an unprecedented intrusion into the educational missions of universities that would impinge on academic freedom and only serve to exacerbate many of the problems critics find with intercollegiate athletics.”

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